Research
07 September 2007
The future of technology-enabled crime in Australia Australian Institute of Criminology
Abstract: As our use of information and communication technologies increases and evolves, incidents of technology-enabled crime are likely to continue. Based on what we know today, this paper summarises a range of potential challenges that regulators and law enforcement agencies need to bear in mind. Key areas identified include infrastructure risks, the use of wireless and mobile technologies, more sophisticated malware, new identification and payment systems, computer-facilitated fraud, exploitation of younger persons, intellectual property infringement, and industrial espionage. Successful prosecution and appropriate sentencing for these crimes will require coordinated policing and on-going legislative reform.
31 August 2007
The Radio and the Internet by Susan P Crawford [Cardozo Legal Studies Research Paper] Social Science Research Network
Abstract: The airwaves offer the potential for contributing to enormous economic growth if they are used more efficiently for facilitating high-speed internet access, but recent industry and government actions have failed to follow this path. This Article evaluates the multi-billion-dollar 700 MHz auction regime established by the Federal Communications Commission in August 2007 as a case study in our national approach to this valuable resource, and argues that the public interest would best be served by having ubiquitous access to the internet be the top priority of communications policy. The Article criticizes the nearly exclusive focus of the FCC on the interests of incumbents and law enforcement, and suggests that spectrum policy be focused on enabling unlicensed uses of the airwaves that can assist the nation with online access.
30 August 2007
Regulation of Blog Campaign Advocacy on the Internet: Comparing U.S., German and EU Approaches by Allison Hayward [George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper] Social Science Research Network
Abstract: This essay examines how U.S., Germany, and EU cases have treated the regulation of political commentary on the Internet. As political blogging grows in popularity, the reach of these sites, and their influence in political campaigns, may make them a target for regulation by rivals and incumbents, both at home and abroad. Since ordinarily any URL can be reached from anywhere with Internet access, conflicting domestic rules about what can be said (and who can say it) present potential for conflicting rules on blogging.
29 August 2007
Technology and Pornography by Dawn C. Nunziato [Brigham Young University Law Review] Social Science Research Network
In this Article, Professor Nunziato scrutinises attempts to use technology to remedy the problem of minors' access to harmful Internet content, focusing on the relationship between the efficacy of the technology and the constitutionality of the legislation at issue. The more effective software filtering becomes in restricting minors' access to harmful content, the less likely the courts will uphold other legislative means. She then analyses the foundational First Amendment jurisprudence regarding the regulation of minors' access to sexually-themed content. Next, I examine the fate of Congress's recent efforts to regulate in this area, with particular emphasis on the current status of COPA. Finally, she analyses the constitutionality of the proposed Internet Community Ports Act in light of the scrutiny courts have imposed upon prior legislative efforts and the burdens the Act would impose on content providers and Internet users.
24 August 2007
IBM end of advertising survey results IBM
The IBM Institute for Business Value provides strategic insights and recommendations that address critical business challenges to help clients capitalize on new opportunities. The Institute is comprised of consultants around the world who conduct research and analysis in 17 industries and across five functional disciplines, including human capital management, financial management, corporate strategy, supply chain management and customer relationship management.
Navigating the Media Divide: Innovating and Enabling New Business Models IBM
Summary: The worlds of traditional and new media are already clashing, and it's a conflict that continues to expand. However, a second type of conflict is brewing - one that could cause major rifts among traditional partners. For media companies, it's time to pursue different and somewhat opposing business models...and navigate the media divide. A new media world has arrived. Pioneered by teens and gadget-savvy professionals, it has quickly spread into virtually every consumer segment, and started to encroach on traditional media.
15 August 2007
Freedom of Expression, Democratic Norms, and Internet Governance by Dawn C. Nunziato [George Washington University Law School] Social Science Research Network
Abstract: In this Article, Dawn C. Nunziato sets forth her conception of the normative procedural and substantive ideals of liberal democracy, with an eye toward how these ideals should be implemented in the context of Internet governance. She then examines whether ICANN's governance structure embodies the normative ideals of liberal democracy. While ICANN's framers committed it to procedural democratic norms, they failed to commit ICANN to substantive normative ideals integral to liberal democracy such as the protection of freedom of expression. Next, she provides concrete recommendations for ICANN to implement meaningful protections for freedom of expression by looking to the general themes and principles embodied within the United States' First Amendment jurisprudence.
11 August 2007
Protecting Browsers from DNS Rebinding Attacks by Collin Jackson, Adam Barth, Andrew Bortz, Weidong Shao & Dan Boneh Stanford University
This paper shows that a well-known, existing defense against these attacks, called "DNS pinning," is ineffective in modern browsers. The primary focus of this work, however, is the design of strong defenses against DNS rebinding attacks that protect modern browsers.
10 August 2007
Global Information Society 2007 - The digital divide: a review of ICTs in Africa, Asia and Latin America Eldis
The Global Information Society Watch 2007 report - the first in a series of annual reports- looks at state of the field of ICT policy at local and global levels and particularly how policy impacts on the lives of people living in developing countries. ... The report concludes that when it comes to ICTs for development, there are some conspicuous similarities between the countries. Excluding Spain, the other twenty-one countries each show obvious evidence of the "digital divide" which impacts on the majority of people negatively. According to Brazilian authors RITS, the absence of a people-orientated policy framework in Brazil runs the risk of condemning the vast majority of people to "eternal disconnection." The report also includes provocative, analytical essays on five international institutions (including ICANN and the World Intellectual Property Organisation) questioning the extent to which they allow all stake-holders to participate in their processes.
Why It Will Be Hard to Close the Broadband Divide Pew Internet & American Life Project
When you look at the data on Americans without broadband at home, it suggests that it will take time to get these holdouts off the digital sidelines.
CDT report Identifies Beginnings of Competitive Marketplace for Search Privacy Center for Democracy & Technology
In a trend that could substantially benefit Internet users, the largest Internet search companies are beginning to aggressively compete with one another to offer stronger privacy protections, according to a report published by the Center for Democracy and Technology.
29 July 2007
The Internet and Global Governance: Principles and Norms for a New Regime by Milton Mueller, John Mathiason & Hans Klein Lynne Rienner Publishers
Abstract: Since the mid-1990s, efforts have been under way to construct an international regime for global Internet governance. Beginning with the formation of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, efforts at regime construction were a main focus of the 2001-2005 UN World Summit on the Information Society. However, little progress was made toward an international agreement. This reflected policymakers' illadvised attempt to shortcut regime construction: they attempted to define regime rules and procedures without first defining underlying principles and norms. This article offers example sets of principles and norms of the type that are missing and that could provide the foundation for an Internet governance regime. The authors conclude that a framework convention would be the appropriate institutional mechanism for advancing regime construction.
The Chilling Effect of Government Surveillance Programs on the Use of the Internet By Muslim-Americans by Dawinder S. Sidhu [Discrimination and National Security Initiative (DNSI); Stanford University - Center for Internet and Society] Social Science Research Network
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the American intelligence community learned that the al-Qaeda regime has used the Internet in order to covertly plan attacks and communicate with its members, among other things. Indeed, 9/11, as well as every major al-Qaeda terrorist plot since then, involved extensive use of the Internet. As a result, the government of the United States has entered cyberspace. In particular, the government has developed and utilized several programs that enable it to monitor Internet usage and gather relevant electronic evidence. The purpose of this article is to explore whether, and if so to what extent, these surveillance programs have resulted in a chilling effect on the Internet usage of Muslim-Americans.
Cyber Embargo: Countering the Internet Jihad by Gregory S. McNeal [Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law] Social Science Research Network
Abstract: Terrorists are engaged in an online jihad, characterized by the use of the internet to fundraise, distribute messages and directives, recruit and proselytize. It is impossible to shut down the entire presence of terrorists on the internet; however, this article details a proposal which can have a marked impact on the presence of terrorists on the internet. Using existing statutes, it is possible to regionalize terrorist websites, limiting them to an extremely small number of countries from which they may receive internet services. Once the terrorist message is limited to a particular region, a modification of current laws can allow for a cyber embargo on jihadist websites and their supporters. These efforts coupled with diplomatic cooperation can further the effort to curb the impact of jihadist websites, while simultaneously increasing the ability of governments to monitor these websites and, when necessary, shut them down.
27 July 2007
Online Video: 57% of internet users have watched videos online; most share what they find Pew Internet & American Life Project
The growing adoption of broadband combined with a dramatic push by content providers to promote online video has helped to pave the way for mainstream audiences to embrace online video viewing. Fifty-seven percent of online adults have used the internet to watch or download video, and 19% do so on a typical day. Three-quarters of broadband users (74%) who enjoy high-speed connections at both home and work watch or download video online.
'Shooting the Messenger': Myth vs. Reality: U.S. Broadband Policy and International Broadband Rankings Free Press
This paper exposes the myths put forward to excuse the shortcomings of the U.S. broadband market. The facts speak for themselves: More than 10 million U.S. households remain unserved, and nearly 50 million homes could subscribe but choose not to because the connection available is too expensive or too slow. The 50 million homes that do have broadband face, at best, a duopoly choice between the local phone or local cable company.
21 July 2007
Reduce poverty by narrowing technology gap, UNCTAD'S Least Developed Countries report 2007 urges UNCTAD
Science, technology and innovation are necessities, not luxuries, for the world´s 50 poorest nations, study says. Unless their domestic businesses and farmers can acquire knowledge and technology that enable them to catch up with the rest of the world, the world´s 50 poorest nations will not be able to achieve the sustained economic growth necessary to reduce poverty, Least Developed Countries Report 2007.
Study: Challenge-Response Surpasses Other Anti-Spam Technologies in Performance, User Satisfaction and Reliability; Worst Performing are Filter-based ISP Solutions Brockmann & Company
Brockmann & Company released findings from its independent, self-funded “Spam Index Report-- Comparing Real-World Performance of Anti-Spam Technologies.” The study evaluated eight anti-spam technologies from the three main technology classes --filters, real-time black list services and challenge-response servers. The technologies were evaluated using the Spam Index, a new method in anti-spam performance measurement that leverages users’ real-world experiences. The Spam Index was first introduced in the Brockmann & Company report, The Problem with Email. Results of the report are based on the responses of 520 business users of email services from around the world who participated in a 7-minute online survey.
20 July 2007
White Paper on the ITU Process for 4G 3G
3G Americas today published a new white paper entitled Defining 4G: Understanding the ITU Process for the Next Generation of Wireless Technology. The white paper provides the factual description of how IMT-Advanced or 4G will someday be defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). ITU is the internationally recognized authority that will produce the official definition of the next generation of wireless technologies beyond IMT-2000 or 3G.
18 July 2007
OECD Communications Outlook 2007 OECD
It's a bit hard to know where to start with this massive publication - The OECD Communications Outlook 2007. It presents the most recent comparable data on communication sector performance and provides information on policy frameworks in OECD countries. The report also provides detailed time series data of up to 10 years for a number of key indicators. In addition, for the first time, the 2007 edition includes analysis of the communication sector in five large non-OECD countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. For those interested in issues relating to domain names, the report includes information and statistics on internet subscribers, internet hosts, domain names, web servers, secure servers, national and regional internet development and peering.
OECD Broadband Statistics to December 2006 OECD
Over the past year, the number of broadband subscribers in the OECD increased 26% from 157 million in December 2005 to 197 million in December 2006. This growth increased broadband penetration rates in the OECD from 13.5 in December 2005 to 16.9 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants one year later.
03 July 2007
Opinion: Is It Time to Replace SMTP? by Dave Crocker (Brandenburg InternetWorking) Cisco Internet Protocol Journal
The first Internet (ARPANET) e-mail, sent 35 years ago, was remarkably similar to a basic text e-mail of today: From, To, CC, Subject, Date, followed by lines of text, and the familiar @-sign in addresses. The right side of the address changed from a simple string into the multilevel domain name that we now use. The body can now be a set of multimedia attachments rather than just lines of text, but it can still be in its original, simpler form. The means of moving mail was the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) in the early 1970s. The current mechanism, the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) [1a, 1b], was not created until 10 years later, but a mere 25 years of use is not bad, either.
All of the technical specifications for e-mail have undergone many changes over the years, but a core requirement has been to protect the installed base of users and operators by incrementally adding features as options, rather than by performing wholesale replacement of any infrastructure service component. E-mail has changed the way we communicate, yet it is also now viewed as having a serious problem: As the Internet grew, it acquired the full mixture of participants, some of whom do not make nice neighbors.
IPv6 Network Mobility by Carlos J. Bernardos, Ignacio Soto, and María Calderón, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Cisco Internet Protocol Journal
The Internet Protocol (IP) is currently accelerating the integration of voice and data communications. The Mobile IP protocol enables host mobility support, but several scenarios exist today, such as the provision of Internet access from mobile platforms (for example, planes, trains, cars, etc.), making it necessary to also support the mobility of complete networks. In response to this demand, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has developed the Network Mobility (NEMO) Basic Support Protocol [1], enabling IPv6 network mobility. This article explains the Network Mobility Basic Support Protocol, by first providing a general overview and then examining the details.
Don't Blame Me: It's the Phone's Fault! Pew Internet & American Life Project
Pew Internet's typology of information and communications technology users tell us a lot about how far along we are -- or aren't -- in the "information society."
Regulating Cyberspace: The Emerging Problems and Challenges by Vishnu Konoorayar (Indian Law Institute/Cochin University Law Review) Social Science Research Network
Abstract: Cyberspace has become the new challenge for the law and its machineries in both civil and criminal matters. This is because of various differences between the real space and cyberspace. Territoriality is one of the important considerations upon which the conventional law and its principles are based up on. The cyberspace is totally different in this aspect from the conventional territory based law. This paper analyses these differences and consequential challenges in detail.
